T Bucket Interiors

[tfeverfred]

As I've gotten close to getting my body from CCR, I've been checking out what others have done for seating. I've also had a few ideas about which direction I want to go with it. My old car had a bench set up. It worked, but could have been better. I've looked at Bomber seats, roadster seats, I've considered making another bench seat (but better) and ready made bench seats. I've thought about seats mounted directly to the floor and also using a base with a lift off section for storage underneath. My head is throbbing from all the ideas I've played with mentally, but that's how my ADD gets, when I get a thought about something.

So, if you don't mind, can you show me what you've done? I'm sure there are others thinking of different options, so perhaps a brief description of what you did and how, would also be helpful. Here's a few I've come up with so far. My final decision obviously won't be made, until my body arrives. I'll lock myself in a dark room for a few hours and mull it over. These are just thoughts and ideas.

First a Roadster seat.
EMPI 62-2880-0 Low-Back Roadster Style Seat, Black

This next one is a bench and comes in 3 widths. 36", 40" and 42".
42" Baja Bench - Bench Seats - Corbeau Racing Seats

Another Roadster seat, but probably too wide.
Baja Low Back - Fixed Back Seats - Corbeau Racing Seats

A Bomber seat.
Speedway Aluminum Hot Rod Bomber Seat

And of course the basic DIY bench, which needs no introduction.

 

[lincolnuT]

Ride on air for a very comfortable trip......... Wheelbarrow inter tubes......with 5 inch firm foam......

 

[Indycars]

That's a great idea and adjustable to!

How do you get to the valve stems to change air pressure?

 

[PotvinGuy]

Fred, check my build thread Big redo of the old bucket for how I used a pair of office chairs mounted on a box.

 

[lincolnuT]

Rick the valve stems come out of the plywood base it is real easy to raise the seat bottom and add air or drain some......I may have a photo somewhere........

 

[Gerry]

Genius, why didn't I think of that.

Ride on air for a very comfortable trip.........View attachment 14027 View attachment 14028 Wheelbarrow inter tubes......with 5 inch firm foam......View attachment 14027 View attachment 14028 View attachment 14029

 

[lincolnuT]

I wish I could take the credit for this but fellow T Bucket head Hemi T came up with way back when..........Underside of seat...........

 

[tfeverfred]

Ride on air for a very comfortable trip.........View attachment 14027 View attachment 14028 Wheelbarrow inter tubes......with 5 inch firm foam......View attachment 14027 View attachment 14028 View attachment 14029

That is..... innovative, to say the least.

 

[tfeverfred]

Fred, check my build thread Big redo of the old bucket for how I used a pair of office chairs mounted on a box.

I saw that when I read your thread, some time ago. It looks great, but a tad too "modern" for what I'm after.

 

[Tjbucket]

Well, my first attempt which I am still equipped with is a homemade bench seat. But, after 2 years with it I am not happy, need to sit lower....so, I am going to try Potvinguy's idea of office chairs. Here is what I am thinking. I have one on order to see if it will achieve what I am looking for. well, for whatever reason, it would not let me upload my current seat design, but, it is a bench seat. My seat sits about 6" above the floor level. I have all my electronics and battery under the seat. Also, my current bench seat is rather thick and does not put me against the back body wall of the bucket, which a different seat would. Keep in mind I also, need to make a new brake pedal armature as that also is part of the problem, sits too high and too far back.

 

[tfeverfred]

A question for you fiberglass guru's........ for my side panels. If I was to make "ribs" and form it around the top edge of the body, along the floor inside edge and in sections along the body sides, could I glue the ribs in place and JUST use resin to hold them in place? My thought is to make a frame work of wood, mount tabs with a through hole to the frame work and use panel buttons to attach the panel to the tabs. Could that work? Will the resin alone be strong enough?

I'm REALLY trying to avoid playing with fiberglass, unless there is NO other choice.

 

[Spanky]

If I understand the concept, the 'ribs' would probably not be strong enough with just resin; probably need to use glass matting on either side to get the strength you need. Now if these 'ribs' are just 1 x 2 pieces with the wide side next to the body, then resin might suffice. Remember these bodies flex somewhat under driving conditions.

 

[HenrysT]

I have an old T body that I took all the wood out of the interior, the wood that was stuck on with bondo held on better than the wood that was glassed in. Different prep or lack of it?

 

[tfeverfred]

If I understand the concept, the 'ribs' would probably not be strong enough with just resin; probably need to use glass matting on either side to get the strength you need. Now if these 'ribs' are just 1 x 2 pieces with the wide side next to the body, then resin might suffice. Remember these bodies flex somewhat under driving conditions.

Ahhh...... okay. So, instead of ribs, small individual blocks? That sounds like a winner to me and it makes sense, too.

 

[tfeverfred]

I have an old T body that I took all the wood out of the interior, the wood that was stuck on with bondo held on better than the wood that was glassed in. Different prep or lack of it?

I just dug up my Total Performance instruction manual and that's what they used. Bondo. They used spring clamps to hold the wood in place, while the bondo cured.

 

[409T]

Something like this?

 

[tfeverfred]

Something like this?

No..... Total used what seems to be wood blocks 1/2" x 2" x 6". Smaller pieces on the body curve. They applied bondo and clamped them under the upper edge of the body. I just looked at a Speedway video of how their panels are installed and it looks pretty good. They use the same size blocks. Their panels have velcro on the edges. They staple velcro to the blocks and stick the panels to the velcro on the wood. I also found an alternative to bondo for gluing the blocks to the body.

WEST SYSTEM Six10™ Thickened Epoxy Adhesive | West Marine

It appears to have positive feedback, when using it to apply wood to fiberglass.

 

[tfeverfred]

409T, I can't see it, but did you kerf that panel to get the curve?

 

[RESINATOR]

This is the Seat Base Riser we are going to be using in our new CCR interior. The base allows for under seat storage and to allow strapping to be used on the actual seat board to get more cushion. The steel structure for the door jam support that will attach to it is not quite done but getting close. This will replace the tube support we install in all our door bodies for those that want to go this route. (or with minor trimming, it will fit over it)

 

[tfeverfred]

This is the Seat Base Riser we are going to be using in our new CCR interior. The base allows for under seat storage and to allow strapping to be used on the actual seat board to get more cushion. The steel structure for the door jam support that will attach to it is not quite done but getting close. This will replace the tube support we install in all our door bodies for those that want to go this route. (or with minor trimming, it will fit over it)

View attachment 14039 View attachment 14040 View attachment 14041

Very impressive. That base almost looks like an OEM Model T base. Will it be sold separately?